A/N- Hello all! Sorry for the wait on this chapter. My computer has been
having some problems lately, I almost lost this chapter! Thankfully though,
here it is. I hope you like it, review please! Oh, and thank you to all my
WONDERFUL reviewers!
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*~The Next Day~*
The knock on the door the next evening startled me out of my thoughts. I'd been thinking about the same thing all day, Michael. I couldn't get that kiss out of my mind, no matter how hard I tried. He kept sneaking me secret smiles throughout lunch and dinner, and I knew he'd been thinking about it too.
Slowly I got up from the couch and headed over to open the door. I was surprised to see Liz standing there in the dying light of the evening.
"Hey Maria!" She said excitedly and I knew Liz had something up her sleeve. She stepped into the house and gave me a quick hug before she began to speak again. "I decided to stop by and invite you to this thing we have going on tonight. Tony has decided to have everyone over to his house for a get-together-shindig-type-thing. So I just wanted to see if you wanted to come with me."
I was just about to politely reject when I heard the floorboards creak behind me, and looked back to see Michael walking through the living room toward the kitchen.
"And you too!" Liz exclaimed loudly and Michael stopped and looked over at Liz questioningly. She laughed nervously, "I mean, you should come too Michael. We're all going over to this guy's house, and it will be really fun I think. You and Maria should definitely come."
"Well I don't know Liz, I wouldn't want to impose on-"Michael began to speak but Liz cut him off.
"Impose? No way! We're an open group and we love to meet new people. And Ria hasn't done anything with the group all summer. I really want you two to come with me."
Michael nodded, "well, if Mara wants me too, I would love to come along. I haven't really gotten to see any of this town except the DeLuca farm, it will be good to have some fun." He gave me a smile, and I too smiled, turning to Liz.
"Sure Liz, to Tony's house it is."
*~An hour or so later~*
After a bit of persuasion, my father allowed me to go with Liz to Tony's. He was very reluctant at first, but when Michael offered to go along, he agreed and told us to be home by midnight. The bonds between my father and Michael had grown strong in the fields, and I knew that his trust in Michael was nothing against me, it was just something that grew with the close relationship between the two men.
The drive was mostly silent as we followed behind Liz's car to the party. The radio sang out lowly as Michael and I both sat in silence. I could feel Michael's quick glances in my direction, and I knew that after last night our relationship was never going to be as it was before.
I maneuvered the truck in behind Liz's car as she parked on the crowded street. Michael and I climbed out and walked slowly over to Liz, our walk as silent as the whole drive had been.
"Well, here we are!" Liz exclaimed excitedly, shooting a glance in my direction. I ignored the glance and looked toward the house. I could hear the music and laughter of my previous classmates pouring out of the house, and for a moment I was reluctant, wondering why I had ever come. I felt the soft touch of Michael's hand as he ran it over the skin of my fore arm and I glanced over to see his reassuring smile. He could see my reluctance, he could sense my trepidation. I smiled at him as we entered the loud house, reassured knowing that he was there next to me.
I recognized everyone at the party, and they all recognized me. Everyone offered their hellos, none extremely warm. Liz had many people to greet, everyone had always loved Liz. Eyes would wander from me to Michael, and then back to me again. I could hear their thoughts, wondering who Maria DeLuca could have brought to the party. I introduced him to those who asked, and quickly and graciously followed Liz when she motioned for us to follow.
We found an empty couch in the corner of the room, and the three of us sat down, grateful for a place to sit and still blend into the crowd.
"So Michael, this is your official welcome to Nebraska." She smiled, leaning over me to look Michael in the eye. "A Sweet Water South High School party, oh the joys of living in Nebraska!" Even through the music we could hear the sarcasm in Liz's voice and Michael laughed, looking around at the group.
"DELUCA!" I heard a scream from across the room and strained my eyes to see where the voice was coming from. "Maria DeLuca! Where on earth have you been all summer?" The deep voice screamed as I watched someone break through the crowds and walk over toward us.
I laughed and shook my head. "Hello Paul," I said rolling my eyes as he squeezed himself on the couch next to me. "How have you been?"
"Pretty good Maria, pretty good. I was beginning to wonder if you were ever going to show yourself in town again, though. It made me sad to think that I wouldn't get to see you again before summer's end."
"I had to go to their house and drag them out, Paul! They've been cooped up there all summer," Liz said, breaking into the conversation. Paul leaned over me and his gaze traveled over to Michael, as if he'd just realized that there was a foreign body on the couch with us.
Paul stuck out his hand, "hey man, I'm Paul." He said, and Michael shook the outstretched hand.
"I'm Michael."
"Michael is from Wyoming, he's living with us for the summer and is helping my father out on the farm," I explained, watching the two shake hands.
Liz shot me a look over the two and I shook my head, I knew what she was looking at me for, and now was not the time. I saw Michael look at Liz, and then back at me in confusion, and I smiled, trying to brush it off.
"Well Maria, I'm afraid I must leave you now to make the rounds at this fine party. Please tell me I'm going to see you again this summer!" He exclaimed as he rose from the couch and turned toward me. "After all, you can't hide forever!" And with that, he disappeared into the crowd.
*~Later that night~*
The drive home was as silent as the drive to the party had been. I almost wished we hadn't gone, the whole night had been awkward. After Paul had left, we made small talk with whoever decided to stop and talk to us, and Michael met the people I went to school with. I didn't have tight bonds with those people, they were hardly my friends at all.
The radio hummed quietly in the truck as we drove down the barren roads toward our farm. I could feel the tension, and I knew Michael wanted me to speak, he wanted me to say something, but I couldn't. I didn't know what I could say to him.
We turned onto the road that connected to the farm, and I drove up to the dark house, stopping the car and turning it off. The silence that fell after the radio ceased was unnerving. Slowly I opened the door, and climbed out of the truck, Michael followed my lead. As I began to walk to the house, I felt Michael grab my arm and I slowly turned around to look at him.
"Will it always be like this, Maria?" Michael asked, breaking the silence, his words mirroring the question I'd been asking myself all day. I looked up at him, his eyes were pinned on me in an inquiring gaze. "I- I feel something for you Maria. I've never felt this before. All the girls I've dated in the past, it never felt like this. I just- I don't want to lose you just because of what happened last night."
I shook my head. "Michael, what happened last night, that kiss, I've been waiting for that all summer. You- you transfix me, I've wanted that all summer, I've wanted YOU all summer. I was just so scared, I am still scared. I don't know what is going to happen, all I know is that I feel something for you too, something deep. Something I've never felt before." I could see the relief in Michael's eyes as I finished talking.
He took a tentative step toward me, and leaned down, our lips connecting, our embrace hidden in the darkness of the night.
Suddenly, the night ceased as light flooded the yard. Michael and I pulled apart and looked toward the house where the porch light glared at us and the front door opened. My father stood in the doorway. My heart raced, wondering whether my father had seen Michael and I kiss. He couldn't know. If my father saw, I knew he would send Michael away.
"Hello!" He called to us as he opened the door, a smile plastered on his face. I saw Michael's tensed muscles relaxed as we both realized that my father knew nothing. "How was the party?" He asked as he neared us.
"Oh it was alright, just the same old people." I answered as I began to walk back to the house. "We saw Seth, Anne, Tony, Susan, Paul-"
"Paul! Sam Walker's boy! Such a fine young man. You really should call him up, Maria, Sam told me that he always did have a little crush on you." I felt my cheeks flush. I knew my father had always thought highly of Paul Walker, I shouldn't have brought him up. Especially because I had known what my father just told me for a very long time.
"I- I don't think so, dad. After all, I'll be going off to college pretty soon, anyway. It wouldn't work out," I explained nervously, shooting a glance at Michael as we reached the front door. His gaze was pinned on me as I opened the front door.
"Well Maria, you know I just want to see you happy." My father said, laying a hand on my shoulder. "Paul is a fine boy, you only deserve the best."
That night, as I tried to get to sleep, Michael's face kept flashing through my brain. The look on his face when my father talked about Paul Walker, the look of pain. Pain because he knew that my father would never embrace the idea of Michael and I being together like he would the idea of Paul and I. That could never happen, and my father could never know. If my father ever found out, I knew that it would be the end of us, and the sun would set on our love before it even could begin.
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*~The Next Day~*
The knock on the door the next evening startled me out of my thoughts. I'd been thinking about the same thing all day, Michael. I couldn't get that kiss out of my mind, no matter how hard I tried. He kept sneaking me secret smiles throughout lunch and dinner, and I knew he'd been thinking about it too.
Slowly I got up from the couch and headed over to open the door. I was surprised to see Liz standing there in the dying light of the evening.
"Hey Maria!" She said excitedly and I knew Liz had something up her sleeve. She stepped into the house and gave me a quick hug before she began to speak again. "I decided to stop by and invite you to this thing we have going on tonight. Tony has decided to have everyone over to his house for a get-together-shindig-type-thing. So I just wanted to see if you wanted to come with me."
I was just about to politely reject when I heard the floorboards creak behind me, and looked back to see Michael walking through the living room toward the kitchen.
"And you too!" Liz exclaimed loudly and Michael stopped and looked over at Liz questioningly. She laughed nervously, "I mean, you should come too Michael. We're all going over to this guy's house, and it will be really fun I think. You and Maria should definitely come."
"Well I don't know Liz, I wouldn't want to impose on-"Michael began to speak but Liz cut him off.
"Impose? No way! We're an open group and we love to meet new people. And Ria hasn't done anything with the group all summer. I really want you two to come with me."
Michael nodded, "well, if Mara wants me too, I would love to come along. I haven't really gotten to see any of this town except the DeLuca farm, it will be good to have some fun." He gave me a smile, and I too smiled, turning to Liz.
"Sure Liz, to Tony's house it is."
*~An hour or so later~*
After a bit of persuasion, my father allowed me to go with Liz to Tony's. He was very reluctant at first, but when Michael offered to go along, he agreed and told us to be home by midnight. The bonds between my father and Michael had grown strong in the fields, and I knew that his trust in Michael was nothing against me, it was just something that grew with the close relationship between the two men.
The drive was mostly silent as we followed behind Liz's car to the party. The radio sang out lowly as Michael and I both sat in silence. I could feel Michael's quick glances in my direction, and I knew that after last night our relationship was never going to be as it was before.
I maneuvered the truck in behind Liz's car as she parked on the crowded street. Michael and I climbed out and walked slowly over to Liz, our walk as silent as the whole drive had been.
"Well, here we are!" Liz exclaimed excitedly, shooting a glance in my direction. I ignored the glance and looked toward the house. I could hear the music and laughter of my previous classmates pouring out of the house, and for a moment I was reluctant, wondering why I had ever come. I felt the soft touch of Michael's hand as he ran it over the skin of my fore arm and I glanced over to see his reassuring smile. He could see my reluctance, he could sense my trepidation. I smiled at him as we entered the loud house, reassured knowing that he was there next to me.
I recognized everyone at the party, and they all recognized me. Everyone offered their hellos, none extremely warm. Liz had many people to greet, everyone had always loved Liz. Eyes would wander from me to Michael, and then back to me again. I could hear their thoughts, wondering who Maria DeLuca could have brought to the party. I introduced him to those who asked, and quickly and graciously followed Liz when she motioned for us to follow.
We found an empty couch in the corner of the room, and the three of us sat down, grateful for a place to sit and still blend into the crowd.
"So Michael, this is your official welcome to Nebraska." She smiled, leaning over me to look Michael in the eye. "A Sweet Water South High School party, oh the joys of living in Nebraska!" Even through the music we could hear the sarcasm in Liz's voice and Michael laughed, looking around at the group.
"DELUCA!" I heard a scream from across the room and strained my eyes to see where the voice was coming from. "Maria DeLuca! Where on earth have you been all summer?" The deep voice screamed as I watched someone break through the crowds and walk over toward us.
I laughed and shook my head. "Hello Paul," I said rolling my eyes as he squeezed himself on the couch next to me. "How have you been?"
"Pretty good Maria, pretty good. I was beginning to wonder if you were ever going to show yourself in town again, though. It made me sad to think that I wouldn't get to see you again before summer's end."
"I had to go to their house and drag them out, Paul! They've been cooped up there all summer," Liz said, breaking into the conversation. Paul leaned over me and his gaze traveled over to Michael, as if he'd just realized that there was a foreign body on the couch with us.
Paul stuck out his hand, "hey man, I'm Paul." He said, and Michael shook the outstretched hand.
"I'm Michael."
"Michael is from Wyoming, he's living with us for the summer and is helping my father out on the farm," I explained, watching the two shake hands.
Liz shot me a look over the two and I shook my head, I knew what she was looking at me for, and now was not the time. I saw Michael look at Liz, and then back at me in confusion, and I smiled, trying to brush it off.
"Well Maria, I'm afraid I must leave you now to make the rounds at this fine party. Please tell me I'm going to see you again this summer!" He exclaimed as he rose from the couch and turned toward me. "After all, you can't hide forever!" And with that, he disappeared into the crowd.
*~Later that night~*
The drive home was as silent as the drive to the party had been. I almost wished we hadn't gone, the whole night had been awkward. After Paul had left, we made small talk with whoever decided to stop and talk to us, and Michael met the people I went to school with. I didn't have tight bonds with those people, they were hardly my friends at all.
The radio hummed quietly in the truck as we drove down the barren roads toward our farm. I could feel the tension, and I knew Michael wanted me to speak, he wanted me to say something, but I couldn't. I didn't know what I could say to him.
We turned onto the road that connected to the farm, and I drove up to the dark house, stopping the car and turning it off. The silence that fell after the radio ceased was unnerving. Slowly I opened the door, and climbed out of the truck, Michael followed my lead. As I began to walk to the house, I felt Michael grab my arm and I slowly turned around to look at him.
"Will it always be like this, Maria?" Michael asked, breaking the silence, his words mirroring the question I'd been asking myself all day. I looked up at him, his eyes were pinned on me in an inquiring gaze. "I- I feel something for you Maria. I've never felt this before. All the girls I've dated in the past, it never felt like this. I just- I don't want to lose you just because of what happened last night."
I shook my head. "Michael, what happened last night, that kiss, I've been waiting for that all summer. You- you transfix me, I've wanted that all summer, I've wanted YOU all summer. I was just so scared, I am still scared. I don't know what is going to happen, all I know is that I feel something for you too, something deep. Something I've never felt before." I could see the relief in Michael's eyes as I finished talking.
He took a tentative step toward me, and leaned down, our lips connecting, our embrace hidden in the darkness of the night.
Suddenly, the night ceased as light flooded the yard. Michael and I pulled apart and looked toward the house where the porch light glared at us and the front door opened. My father stood in the doorway. My heart raced, wondering whether my father had seen Michael and I kiss. He couldn't know. If my father saw, I knew he would send Michael away.
"Hello!" He called to us as he opened the door, a smile plastered on his face. I saw Michael's tensed muscles relaxed as we both realized that my father knew nothing. "How was the party?" He asked as he neared us.
"Oh it was alright, just the same old people." I answered as I began to walk back to the house. "We saw Seth, Anne, Tony, Susan, Paul-"
"Paul! Sam Walker's boy! Such a fine young man. You really should call him up, Maria, Sam told me that he always did have a little crush on you." I felt my cheeks flush. I knew my father had always thought highly of Paul Walker, I shouldn't have brought him up. Especially because I had known what my father just told me for a very long time.
"I- I don't think so, dad. After all, I'll be going off to college pretty soon, anyway. It wouldn't work out," I explained nervously, shooting a glance at Michael as we reached the front door. His gaze was pinned on me as I opened the front door.
"Well Maria, you know I just want to see you happy." My father said, laying a hand on my shoulder. "Paul is a fine boy, you only deserve the best."
That night, as I tried to get to sleep, Michael's face kept flashing through my brain. The look on his face when my father talked about Paul Walker, the look of pain. Pain because he knew that my father would never embrace the idea of Michael and I being together like he would the idea of Paul and I. That could never happen, and my father could never know. If my father ever found out, I knew that it would be the end of us, and the sun would set on our love before it even could begin.
